Store Owners Win Rezoning To Permit Renovation Project

December 3, 1985|By Stephen J. Cohen, Staff Writer

All Pompilio and Maria Echemendia want to do is modernize their small, run- down convenience store on Lawrence Road west of Boynton Beach.

The work requires more than just making repairs, changing the layout, painting and knocking out some walls or doors, though. Because the 1,094- square-foot store operates in an area zoned for agricultural use, government approval is required.

The store existed before the area was given its zoning designation, so county officials had agreed to allow the business to remain.

And on Monday, the Echemendias won a rezoning to commercial use for their half-acre parcel south of Northwest 22nd Avenue.

That will allow them to remodel and enlarge their convenience store, which is 57 years old and has never been repaired on the outside, said their agent, Beril Kruger.

County ordinances prohibit any external modifications to a building that is sitting as a ``non-conforming use.``

Commissioners were concerned the rezoning would allow the Echemendias to sell the land and have someone else come in with a different use allowed under the neighborhood commercial zoning they were seeking.

But a convenience store is generally considered the most ``noxious`` use of those allowed in neighborhood commercial districts, Zoning Director John Lehner said.

Kruger said the couple already has turned down some large offers. The family needs the income from that store, Kruger said, and has no intention of selling. Although county codes would allow a building up to 6,000 square feet on a half-acre property, the parking space requirements for a convenience store would prohibit them from expanding to more than 2,000 square feet, Lehner said.